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The bulletin of Atlanta University, 1906 no. 166

The bulletin of Atlanta University

The Atlanta Riot Our readers are already familiar with the main facts of the reign of terror through which this city has recently passed, and it is not necessary to repeat them here. Suffice it to say that from Saturday evening, September 22, till the following Tuesday or Wednesday, parts of the city were at different times practically in the hands of a white mob who chased, beat, shot, and killed innocent and inoffensive Negroes wherever they could find them, without regard to any question of their guilt or innocence of any alleged crime. At the outset little or nothing was done by the police to control the mob, and their subsequent efforts were far from successful. The militia did better and rendered effective protection to life and property in many cases; yet even they assisted in disarming the Negroes, and in some instances seemed, as well as the police, to be in sympathy with the mob. Many Negro homes were invaded by the authorities and their fire arms taken away, while the whites had free access to the hardware stores for the purchase of arms. The number of those killed will probably never be known, but it is believed to be much greater than has been reported, both of whites and blacks. The number of wounded was also large. It is gratifying to record that in some notable instances friendly white men protected and defended Negroes from their assailants. Accounts of the origin of the outbreak naturally differ. It is claimed by some that it was caused by the repeated occurrence of criminal assaults of Negro men on white women during that Saturday and some previous days. Doubtless the publication of the reports of these alleged assaults in a sensational manner by some of the Atlanta papers had much to do with inflaming the populace. But it is a noteworthy fact that not one of the cases of assault alleged to have occurred on that Saturday has been proved. For a long time the relations between the races have been becoming more and more strained. During the past summer the campaign for the governorship of the state was carried on by the lead- ing candidates with unprecedented bitterness as regards one another and in a way to increase the alienation of the races. In this condition of the popular mind it was easy for a few hoodlums in a crowded city on a Saturday night when liquor flowed freely, with the aid of flaming extras announcing the alleged assaults on white women, to start such an outbreak as that which occurred. To the credit of Atlanta justice be it said that numerous members of the mob have been arrested and sent to the stockade for thirty days, being also bound over to the Grand Jury for indictment; and that a considerable number of them have since been indicted. Many arrests of Negroes have also been made in connection with the killing of a policeman who was shot in the night under a misapprehension, so it is claimed, that he and his posse and a crowd behind them were the mob. A committee of leading white citizens has been formed which is in conference with a committee of leading colored men to study the situation and cooperate for the preservation of peace. Through the influence of the white committee a generous fund has been raised for the families of the victims of the mob. It is a significant fact that nearly all of the members of the colored committee are graduates or former students of Atlanta University or of other northern missionary schools in the South. It is with profound gratitude that we record that no harm to person or property was suffered at Atlanta University. As the term had not opened, no students were present, but about fifteen teachers or members of teachers' families were in the buildings. The governor was asked for a detail of the militia, which was furnished, and their presence in our neighborhood was an undoubted protection. '06—Of the college class, A. G. Dill has entered Harvard University, P. M. Thompson the University of Chicago, and J. H. Butler the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. P. H. Williams is the teacher of manual training at Knox Institute in Athens, and Miss Bazoline E. Usher teaches in the Gloucester School, Cappahosie, Va. Our Remarkable Opening A bloody riot and massacre of Negroes in Atlanta, followed within a fortnight by a record-breaking attendance of students at Atlanta University would seem to be impossible, yet it is just what has happened. Previous to the outbreak, an unusually large attendance was expected, but when the mob had reddened the streets of Atlanta with the blood of innocent Negroes, it seemed doubtful if even half our usual enrolment would materialize. What was our amazement, and our joy too, when the opening days of the term found the students pouring in upon us in greater numbers than ever. Our boys' dormitory is nearly full, and our girls' dormitory is already crowded. We are perplexed how to care properly for the girls now here, and are declining to receive further applicants. All this speaks volumes for the persistence of Negro youth and their parents in the pursuit of education, and for their courage in adhering to their purpose under very adverse conditions. It is said that thousands of Negro workmen have fled from Atlanta for safety during and since the riot, yet here are hundreds of the flower of Negro youth from all over Georgia and surrounding-states flocking here for an education. Truly there is hope for such a people. The problem of what to do with our girls, which has been looming up for several years past, has now become a very pressing one. At present they outnumber the boys by about two to one. Must we continue to take them when we can only provide for them under more or less unwholesome conditions? Shall we turn them away when the future of the race is so largely in their hands, as the mothers of children, the makers of homes, and the teachers of public schools? Or will some generous donor give us the money for a new girls' dormitory, or at least for the enlargement of our present one? Our quartet had a pleasant trip, visiting principally churches and summer resorts in New England. Mr. Ware, our chaplain, was in charge the first half of the trip, and later Prof. Towns. The quartet consisted of Williams ('07), Oliver ('08), B. M. Smith ('09), Watson ('10). Number 166 Atlanta, Georgia October, 1906

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Transcript

The Atlanta Riot Our readers are already familiar with the main facts of the reign of terror through which this city has recently passed, and it is not necessary to repeat them here. Suffice it to say that from Saturday evening, September 22, till the following Tuesday or Wednesday, parts of the city were at different times practically in the hands of a white mob who chased, beat, shot, and killed innocent and inoffensive Negroes wherever they could find them, without regard to any question of their guilt or innocence of any alleged crime. At the outset little or nothing was done by the police to control the mob, and their subsequent efforts were far from successful. The militia did better and rendered effective protection to life and property in many cases; yet even they assisted in disarming the Negroes, and in some instances seemed, as well as the police, to be in sympathy with the mob. Many Negro homes were invaded by the authorities and their fire arms taken away, while the whites had free access to the hardware stores for the purchase of arms. The number of those killed will probably never be known, but it is believed to be much greater than has been reported, both of whites and blacks. The number of wounded was also large. It is gratifying to record that in some notable instances friendly white men protected and defended Negroes from their assailants. Accounts of the origin of the outbreak naturally differ. It is claimed by some that it was caused by the repeated occurrence of criminal assaults of Negro men on white women during that Saturday and some previous days. Doubtless the publication of the reports of these alleged assaults in a sensational manner by some of the Atlanta papers had much to do with inflaming the populace. But it is a noteworthy fact that not one of the cases of assault alleged to have occurred on that Saturday has been proved. For a long time the relations between the races have been becoming more and more strained. During the past summer the campaign for the governorship of the state was carried on by the lead- ing candidates with unprecedented bitterness as regards one another and in a way to increase the alienation of the races. In this condition of the popular mind it was easy for a few hoodlums in a crowded city on a Saturday night when liquor flowed freely, with the aid of flaming extras announcing the alleged assaults on white women, to start such an outbreak as that which occurred. To the credit of Atlanta justice be it said that numerous members of the mob have been arrested and sent to the stockade for thirty days, being also bound over to the Grand Jury for indictment; and that a considerable number of them have since been indicted. Many arrests of Negroes have also been made in connection with the killing of a policeman who was shot in the night under a misapprehension, so it is claimed, that he and his posse and a crowd behind them were the mob. A committee of leading white citizens has been formed which is in conference with a committee of leading colored men to study the situation and cooperate for the preservation of peace. Through the influence of the white committee a generous fund has been raised for the families of the victims of the mob. It is a significant fact that nearly all of the members of the colored committee are graduates or former students of Atlanta University or of other northern missionary schools in the South. It is with profound gratitude that we record that no harm to person or property was suffered at Atlanta University. As the term had not opened, no students were present, but about fifteen teachers or members of teachers' families were in the buildings. The governor was asked for a detail of the militia, which was furnished, and their presence in our neighborhood was an undoubted protection. '06—Of the college class, A. G. Dill has entered Harvard University, P. M. Thompson the University of Chicago, and J. H. Butler the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania. P. H. Williams is the teacher of manual training at Knox Institute in Athens, and Miss Bazoline E. Usher teaches in the Gloucester School, Cappahosie, Va. Our Remarkable Opening A bloody riot and massacre of Negroes in Atlanta, followed within a fortnight by a record-breaking attendance of students at Atlanta University would seem to be impossible, yet it is just what has happened. Previous to the outbreak, an unusually large attendance was expected, but when the mob had reddened the streets of Atlanta with the blood of innocent Negroes, it seemed doubtful if even half our usual enrolment would materialize. What was our amazement, and our joy too, when the opening days of the term found the students pouring in upon us in greater numbers than ever. Our boys' dormitory is nearly full, and our girls' dormitory is already crowded. We are perplexed how to care properly for the girls now here, and are declining to receive further applicants. All this speaks volumes for the persistence of Negro youth and their parents in the pursuit of education, and for their courage in adhering to their purpose under very adverse conditions. It is said that thousands of Negro workmen have fled from Atlanta for safety during and since the riot, yet here are hundreds of the flower of Negro youth from all over Georgia and surrounding-states flocking here for an education. Truly there is hope for such a people. The problem of what to do with our girls, which has been looming up for several years past, has now become a very pressing one. At present they outnumber the boys by about two to one. Must we continue to take them when we can only provide for them under more or less unwholesome conditions? Shall we turn them away when the future of the race is so largely in their hands, as the mothers of children, the makers of homes, and the teachers of public schools? Or will some generous donor give us the money for a new girls' dormitory, or at least for the enlargement of our present one? Our quartet had a pleasant trip, visiting principally churches and summer resorts in New England. Mr. Ware, our chaplain, was in charge the first half of the trip, and later Prof. Towns. The quartet consisted of Williams ('07), Oliver ('08), B. M. Smith ('09), Watson ('10). Number 166 Atlanta, Georgia October, 1906